Although traditional migraine treatment involves medication, alternative approaches can also help alleviate symptoms and lessen their frequency and severity. Holistic therapies have even shown results when used alongside prescription treatments to effectively manage migraine headaches.
Acupuncture has been shown to help treat migraines by regulating neurotransmitters and stimulating blood flow; additionally, it relieves muscle tension that often contributes to migraine attacks.
Inhaling Lavender Oil
Aromatherapy – using natural oils such as lavender to relax the senses – has been shown to effectively help manage migraines. According to a 2022 study published by European Neurology, participants reported both reduced migraine frequency and severity after three months of lavender essential oil aromatherapy treatments.
Linalyl acetate oil has been shown to relax brain cells, thus alleviating tension and anxiety. You can inhale or dilute it and apply to neck or forehead during an attack; just be wary not to get any in your eyes or mouth!
Regular exercise and healthy diet can also help combat stress-induced headaches. Other holistic approaches for migraines may include breathing exercises, yoga or tai chi. These methods may reduce anxiety and tightness in muscles near the base of your skull which is commonly linked with migraine attacks; plus they can improve sleep and boost mood!
Keeping a Food Diary
Diets that prioritize fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats may help ease migraine symptoms. As processed food can contain additives that aggravate migraine symptoms, it’s important to read food labels and opt for natural options whenever possible.
An insightful headache or migraine diary can offer valuable insight into your individual headache triggers and patterns. Try writing in it daily, tracking eating habits, medication use and the onset of headaches to gain greater insights into any possible triggers such as aged cheese, processed meats or excessive caffeine intake that might recur regularly.
Many migraine sufferers are sensitive to histamine, sulfites and other chemical compounds found in foods like wine, cheese and certain processed meats, which may trigger migraine attacks in individuals who are histamine intolerant or sensitive. Reading food labels carefully and choosing fresh, unprocessed items such as vegetables is key. Staying hydrated is also vital; dehydration can aggravate migraine symptoms in some people while sipping herbal teas such as peppermint, ginger and chamomile can help promote relaxation and ease symptoms caused by migraine attacks.
Biofeedback Testing
Many migraine sufferers are turning to holistic approaches – treating not just symptoms but also treating the whole person – for managing their headaches. Traditional medication may cause unwanted side effects or lose efficacy over time due to tolerance1.
Many body functions, like skin temperature, heart rate and blood pressure are managed involuntarily by your nervous system. One technique to help gain control over these functions is through biofeedback testing; using it, one can learn to monitor these features more closely.
Biofeedback training can be found in physical therapy clinics, medical centers, hospitals, and psychology practices – check with your insurance provider first if it’s covered – as well as free biofeedback resources and equipment online – such as through BioFeedBack Resources International which features a directory of board-certified practitioners as well as informational articles about various health issues as well as an explanation on how to perform self-tests for biofeedback self-tests; additionally you can gain more knowledge on specific forms such as EMG-biofeedback neurofeedback which are all great places for biofeedback training!
Meditation
Meditation can help reduce the elevated stress hormones linked to migraines and headaches, relieving their symptoms. Meditation has also been proven effective at improving quality of life and increasing pain tolerance when used as part of holistic treatments for headaches.
One study demonstrated that mindfulness meditation (a type of meditation that focuses on being present and accepting thoughts and emotions without judgment) effectively reduces headache pain intensity and frequency, as well as severity symptoms like nausea, vomiting, disability and anxiety. This approach may offer more natural solutions than pharmaceutical medications.
With so many types of meditation available, it is essential that you research which might best fit you. Start off by finding a quiet space without interruptions for meditation practice in the beginning, gradually lengthening sessions as your comfort increases. IPEC (Integrated Physical Emotional Clearing), is another holistic treatment which uses pressure massage techniques to clear away energy blockages in the body.
